Dot Net reader Rob Witham attended Tuesday's WWE Smackdown taping in Richmond, Va. and filed the following report.

Jeff Hardy began the show with a promo. Chris Jericho came out for their match.

1. Jeff Hardy defeated Chris Jericho. Very good opening match with several near falls.

2. The Great Khali beat Mike Knox. During the match, the pyro hit and Kane walked out. Mike Knox attacked Khali from behind in the ring, but Khali recovered for the win. Kane came down post-match, climbed onto the apron, then turned around and left.

3. Dolph Ziggler (w/Maria) beat Finlay via countout. Some "inadvertent" aid from Maria helped Dolph recover from a ringside beatdown and eventually get the win.

CM Punk came out to cut a promo on how hard it is to be straight-edged. Jeff Hardy came out, but Punk decided it was "better" to, rather than enable Jeff in a talkfest, to "just say no". Punk left ringside.

4. Eve Torres (w/Cryme Tyme) defeated Natalya (w/Hart Dynasty). Typical Diva match.

Chris Jericho offered the tag team partnership to the Great Khali backstage. Khali refused.

5. R-Truth defeated Charlie Haas.

6. Rey Mysterio beat CM Punk via DQ. With a few minutes left in the match, Dolph Ziggler came to ringside. After hitting a 619, Rey went for the cover and Ziggler interfered for the DQ. A moment later, Rey had Ziggler in position for a 619, only to have Punk recover and push him down and away from Ziggler. Punk left and was near the top of the ramp while Ziggler continued the beatdown on Mysterio. Out came Jeff Hardy, who pushed Punk while running down the ramp, which helped Rey. Punk followed and caught Hardy in a GTS to end the show. Hardy laid out while Punk returns up the ramp.

Dark Match

1. CM Punk defeated Jeff Hardy in a cage match to retain the World Hvt. Championship. A short match (it took longer to put the cage up!). Hardy spent the entire time on the mat selling the GTS, then recovered just in time for the match. After Punk got the win, he returned to the ring with mic in hand to challenge Hardy to live "one week" on the straight-edge. Jeff answered, "Richmond, I'll drink to that," and hit the Twist of Fate and a Swanton to send the fans home happy. He took several moments to greet fans as he left the ringside area.

LOUDEST POPS:

1) Jeff Hardy (by far)
2) Rey Mysterio
3) The Great Khali

BOOS:

1) CM Punk
2) Chris Jericho
3) Dolph Ziggler

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